Indication device

Abstract

The present invention provides a display device that allows users to recognize the operating area through touch. [Solution] The display device 100, which is installed inside the steering wheel 1 of the vehicle, comprises a display 2 that displays an image, a cover panel 3 that covers the display 2 from the front, and a touch sensor 4 located between the display 2 and the cover panel 3 that detects touch operations performed by the user on the cover panel 3. The cover panel 3 has an operation area that can accept touch operations, which includes a first area A1 that can be operated with the thumb by a user holding the steering wheel 1, and a second area A2 that is different from the first area A1. The first area A1 is raised higher than the second area A2.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display device provided inside a steering wheel of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a display device including a display disposed on a center pad of a steering wheel and a touch panel disposed on the display.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=Z2]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of device, there is a possibility that a user who is a driver may need to visually check an operation area while holding the steering wheel.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a display device that allows a user to recognize an operation area by touch.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the display device according to the present disclosure is a display device provided inside a steering wheel of a vehicle, including a display for displaying an image, a cover panel that covers the display from the front, and a touch sensor located between the display and the cover panel and detecting a touch operation made by a user on the cover panel. The cover panel has, as an operation area that can accept touch operations, a first area that can be operated with the thumb by a user holding the steering wheel, and a second area different from the first area. The aforementioned first area is higher than the aforementioned second area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the user can be made to recognize the operating area through touch. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a display device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure on a steering wheel. [Figure 2] A schematic cross-sectional view along line II, shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the first area related to the modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the display device 100 is installed inside the steering wheel 1 of the vehicle. The display device 100 is located on the center pad of the steering wheel 1.

[0011] As shown in Figure 2, the display device 100 comprises a display 2, a cover panel 3, a touch sensor 4, an adhesive layer 5, a control board 6, and a housing 7 that houses these components. The housing 7 is a resin or metal case.

[0012] Display 2 consists of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, etc., and displays an image. Hereinafter, the direction in which Display 2 displays an image will be referred to as the front of the display device 100, and the opposite direction will be referred to as the rear. The front of the display device 100 corresponds to the top of Figure 2, and the rear of the display device 100 corresponds to the bottom of Figure 2.

[0013] The cover panel 3 covers the display 2 from the front. The cover panel 3 has a light-transmitting substrate 31, a light-transmitting design layer 32, and a light-shielding layer 33.

[0014] The light-transmitting substrate 31 is a plate-shaped member made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), soda-lime glass, or the like. The light-transmitting substrate 31 does not need to be completely transparent; it may be colored to reduce light transmittance. Furthermore, the light-transmitting substrate 31 is not limited to a flat plate shape; it may also be a curved plate shape.

[0015] The light-transmitting design layer 32 is a layer that imparts a design to the light-transmitting substrate 31. The light-transmitting design layer 32 has, for example, a wood, metal, fabric, or leather-like pattern or texture and consists of a light-transmitting printed layer formed on the rear surface of the light-transmitting substrate 31. The light-transmitting design layer 32 may be formed using wood, metal, fabric, or leather material, as long as it is light-transmitting. The light-transmitting design layer 32 may also be formed on the front surface of the light-transmitting substrate 31. Furthermore, the light-transmitting design layer 32 may be formed on the light-transmitting substrate 31 by insert molding or TOM (Three-dimensional Overlay Method) molding. It may also be an integral part of the light-transmitting substrate 31 (i.e., the design is applied to the light-transmitting substrate 31).

[0016] The light-shielding layer 33 is, for example, a black printing ink layer placed on the rear surface of the light-transmitting substrate 31, and is configured to hide parts of the display 2 other than the image display area from the user. The image displayed by the display 2 is visible to the user by passing through the light-transmitting substrate 31 and the light-transmitting design layer 32. The user is the driver of the vehicle.

[0017] The touch sensor 4 is located between the display 2 and the cover panel 3 and detects a touch operation made by the user on the cover panel 3. The touch sensor 4 is, for example, a capacitive sensor sheet. Note that the touch sensor 4 can be arbitrarily arranged as long as it is between the display 2 and the cover panel 3, and it may be bonded to the rear surface of the cover panel 3.

[0018] Here, the cover panel 3 has, as an operation area capable of receiving a touch operation, a first area A1 that can be operated by the thumb of a user holding the steering wheel, and a second area A2 that is different from the first area A1. And the first area A1 protrudes upward more than the second area A2. Thus, by providing a step with respect to the second area A2 in the first area A1 that the user operates with the thumb, the user can identify the operation area only by the sense of touch without moving the line of sight from the front.

[0019] Also, the second area A2 is located closer to the center of the display 2 than the first area A1. Thereby, in the cover panel 3, the thickness of the second area A2 can be made thinner than that of the first area A1, and it is possible to suppress the display in the central portion of the display 2 from being blurred.

[0020] Note that, as an aspect in which the first area A1 protrudes upward more than the second area A2, it may be the aspect of the modified example shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an example in which a pair of protrusions are formed in the first area A1 of the cover panel 3 and the bottom surface of the groove therebetween is at the same position as the front surface of the second area A2. That is, it is not necessary for all of the first area A1 to protrude upward more than the second area A2, and at least a part (for example, at least a part or all of the outer edge region of the first area A1) of the first area A1 may protrude upward more than the second area A2.

[0021] The adhesive layer 5 is a colorless, transparent resin with light transmissivity and elasticity, and is composed of, for example, OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive), OCR (Optical Clear Resin), etc. The adhesive layer 5 is filled between the touch sensor 4 and the cover panel 3 to suppress internal reflection when external light is incident and improve the visibility of the display.

[0022] The control board 6 is a printed circuit board on which a microcontroller is mounted and is electrically connected to each of the display 2 and the touch sensor 4. The controller performs display control of the display 2. Further, the controller detects a touch operation by the user based on the detection signal from the touch sensor 4, and performs control such as switching the display of the display 2 according to the detected operation content.

[0023] In the above description, for the sake of facilitating the understanding of the present disclosure, the description of known technical matters has been appropriately omitted.

[0024] This invention can be implemented in various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Also, the above-described embodiments are for explaining this invention and do not limit the scope of this invention. That is, the scope of this invention is indicated not by the embodiments but by the claims. And various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 100…Display device 1…Steering wheel 2…Display 3…Cover panel, A1…First area, A2…Second area 4…Touch sensor 5…Adhesive layer 6…Control board​​

Claims

1. A display device installed inside the steering wheel of a vehicle, A display that shows images, A cover panel that covers the aforementioned display from the front, The system includes a touch sensor located between the display and the cover panel, which detects touch operations performed by the user on the cover panel, The cover panel has, as an operation area that can accept touch operations, a first area that can be operated with the thumb by a user holding the steering wheel, and a second area different from the first area. The aforementioned first area is higher than the aforementioned second area. Display device.

2. The second area is located closer to the center of the display than the first area. The display device according to claim 1.

Images